Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, catamounts, may look somewhat cute and resemble domestic cats, but the sounds mountain lions generate alone make the blood run cold as ice. We can’t think of any scarier things in the forest than mountain lion sounds.

While the sounds from a male mountain lion might seem devilish, it’s actually a mating call. These animals are pretty solitary. They avoid other members of the species except during courtship and that is why these sounds have to be so strong and distinctive. It sounds like a woman in pain screaming, making it that much more horrific.

We doubt that the gentleman in this video would be so entertained and at ease while listening to this sound if he didn’t hold that rifle in his hands. Because these mountain lion sounds are fitting for a sci-fi flick about creatures from another planet.

We said that these mountain lion sounds belong in a horror movie and this video proves it as it is filmed in an almost pitch dark setting, and the woman holding the camera reacts the way an actor in a horror movie should.

Mating screams are not the only types mountain lion sounds in their arsenal as these growling noises will also do the trick and put their prey in running mode just the way they like it. The sounds mountain lions produce are sometimes similar to those of the Predator, from the famous movie franchise.

This is funny to the spectators as the animals are behind a strong metal fence, but if it wasn’t there, or even if it was just dark, we doubt we would hear any laughter.

Next time you’re in the wilderness and you think you’re hearing ghosts, be at ease, as it’s probably just mountain lions… Pretty reassuring, we know.